We love a good bubble bath with the scented candles, incense burning and Lauryn Hill playing low in the background. But I think by now, we all know that self-love and self-care aren’t just about bubble baths and face masks.

Here are 9 things I think are crucial for our mental health and for truly loving and caring for ourselves.

1. Sleep – it is so essential to get enough rest. This one is extremely hard for me because I am an insomniac. I actually wrote this at 3 a.m. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try drinking some chamomile tea or The Republic of Tea Beautifying Botanicals️ Beauty Sleep Herbal Tea 36 Tea Bag Tin,Beautifying Botanicals Beauty Sleep Herbal Tea.

2. Eat lots of nutrient-rich foods to give yourself enough energy throughout the day. Drink more water. And, the secret of Caribbean people: drink tea, and drink it often. Certain teas can act as natural remedies for anything from headaches, cramps, and stomach aches to appetite suppressants, helping speed up your metabolic rate, even keeping your breath fresh, and much more.

3. Do something to get your heart rate up – Zumba, dancing, running, jogging or Pilates, etc. Yoga is extremely relaxing; it helps to control your breathing, improve flexibility, and can help manage anxiety levels. Swimming is also a great form of exercise because it’s low-impact, (especially if you have joint pains or arthritis), but still targets all muscles.

4. Go outside. Get fresh air. Take a walk. Disconnect from your devices, especially in this time when you might feel trapped or confined. If you have yard space, a balcony, or a garden, go outside and take in some nature.

5. Meditate. There are a lot of meditation apps and YouTube videos that can help get your mind in a peaceful place.

6. Talk to someone, anyone you can trust, but talk about it. If you don’t have anyone you can trust or you realise the issues you’re having might need more attention than your also struggling friend, busy parent, or confidante can give you or the situation, therapy is an option. It is expensive, yes, but the same money you’d normally spend doing unnecessary, unessential things, you can save and use to pay for your sessions. Invest in you. Don’t be scared or ashamed either. It’s a bit strange and awkward at first, but you get an unbiased opinion with no prior knowledge of the situation. More people than you know speak with a therapist, they just might not make you aware.

7. Set boundaries – this is one of the most difficult for me, probably THE most difficult. Because I am the friend that loves unconditionally. I am the friend you call at 3 am. I am the friend that will drop everything & run to your rescue. I am the friend that will laugh and cry with you and fight alongside you and for you. And I am proud of being that friend.

But, I am also the friend that would sit and listen to endless problems, and sometimes criticisms or ‘advice’ due to fear of losing a ‘friend’, being thought of as mean or simply, not being a good friend. At some point though, if you let them, some people will start taking advantage of you and that’s just a fact.

My point is you cannot allow everyone to access the entirety of your mental space. I’m not saying to become stoic and uncaring, but I am saying you don’t always have to pick up the phone at 3 am. It’s not always an emergency & you don’t always need to ‘pull up’, and certainly not for any and everybody. It doesn’t make you a bad person. And yes, it is OKAY to say no.

8. Write about it. Keep a journal and write down how you feel and why you feel that way. It’s a way to keep track of your emotions and what evokes them.

AND

9. Always make time to do the things that are important to you.

#Selfcare #Selflove #loveyourself #behappy #behealthy #healthiswealth #mentalhealth #wellness #health #metime #getactive #sleep